Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-01-01
A BLOW AT POLYGAMY,

riage.
Mr.. David Whitmer, of Richmond,
Mo-, the only living witness to 'the di-
vine authent city of the Book of Nor
mon," who is now nearly 80 years Of
age, has in the Philadelphia Press an in.
teresting interview upon the origin Of
the Mormon church, and upon the reve-
lations which were given to it's founder.
The most striking feature of this inter
view is the statement that the original
Book of Mormon, not only did not au-
thorize, but condemned polygamy.
This condemnation was found in the Sec
ond book Of Jacob, sixth chapter, in the
following language:
"Imust speak unto you concerning q
grosser crime. My heart would rejoice
exceedingly because OF you but the
word of God burdens me because of
your grosser crimes, for behold thus
eaith the Lord: This people beginneth
to wax in iniquity: they understand not
the scriptures, for they seek to excuse
themselves in committing whoredoms,
because of the things which are written
concerning David and Solomon his
son. Behold David and Soloman had
truly many wives and concubines, which
thing was abominable before me, saith
the Lord; wherefore thus saith the Lord !:
Ihave led this people forth out of the
land of Jerusalem, by the power OF mine
arm, that I might raise unto me right
eous branch from the fruit of the IONS of
Joseph, wherefore I, the Lord God, will
not suffer that this people shall do like
unto these of old; wherefore, my breth-
rem, hear me and harken to the word of
the Lord; for there shall not any man
among you have save one wife, and concu-
bines he shall have none, for I, the Lord
God, delighteth in the chastity of wo-
men,"
This passage has disappeared from the
present Mormon bible, which pretends
to be an inspired revelation, and Mr..
Whitmer states that within few years
the present leaders of the Mormon
church have endeavored to obtain pos.
session of this early document. This is
shown in the following passage in tie
interview: "In 1879 two of the Mormon
apostles, Orson Pratt and Joseph F.
Smith { a son Of Hiram, Smith, who was
killed with the prophet), visited Rich
mond for the express purpose of obtain
ing these time worn sheets, and they
came admirably prepared to pay. for
them. Mr.. Whitmer received them
and Apostle Pratt said:
"sFather Whitmer, We desire to pur-
chase the manus cript, and we are author
lied to say that you may name your
price, and { with q patronizins airy be
sure you put the price high enough, for
the church has plenty OF money in the
treasury. you know :
sit was q brilliant overture, but il
failed. Old Mr.. Whitmer replied. with
quiet emphasis Elder Pratt, there isn't
gold enough in the world to buy it.
The apostles went home empty handed,
although Orson Pratt would have will
ingly paid 500, 900 for tho manuscript.
Much speculation has been INDUCED in
the particular reason for this
anxiety on the part of the church to pos
sess this relic, some going so far as to
assert that it is traceable to an important
difference which is said to exist in the
text touching on polygamy, as between
the original manuscript and the present
reading of the Book Of Mormon. In
glancing through this original manu-
script the notable text, which so com.
pletely annihilates the morality which
the Mormons claim for polygamY, was
covered